The First 24 Hours

Skin-to-skin can help keep baby warmer, calmer and they can hear mom’s heartbeat – giving them some comfort! That is why uninterrupted skin-to-skin with mom right after birth is very important to help baby start off with a good latch. All non-necessary procedures (weight, bath, shots) should wait until after the first breastfeeding session.

At first, your milk will appear yellow or golden… the amount will be very small, but it is made in the right amount and has what your baby needs! This milk is called colostrum and is the only food your baby needs!

*Remember, your baby’s tummy is so tiny! Your baby will only eat about 1 tsp of your milk at each feeding. About the same size as your fingernail!*

When you’re first breastfeeding, your breasts may feel a little tender, but breastfeeding should not hurt! If it does, ask the hospital to bring in the lactation consultant for help.

A few more tips:

• Your baby will probably be awake the first hour after birth, so this is a good time for him/her to breastfeed. It may be more nuzzling than nursing the first couple of times, but these are good starts!
• If you have a lot of visitors after delivery, try to keep your room calm and quiet for the first hour to allow time for your baby to breastfeed.
• It’s normal for babies to sleep heavily after their initial alert period. Labor and delivery are hard work for you and your baby! Some babies may be too sleepy to latch on well and feedings may be short and irregular. Let your baby feed as he/she demands. This may result in a 3-minute feeding or a feeding that lasts 15 minutes. As your baby wakes up, he/she will have a strong instinct to suck and feed often.
• Also within the first 24 hours, baby will have at least one meconium stool.
  • Meconium is the baby’s first stool and should be black, thick, and sticky.
  • Meconium is made by ingesting mucus, amniotic fluid, and other materials in the womb.

Breastfeeding Nutrition

Now that you’re back home and breastfeeding like a pro, it is important to fuel your body with the right nutrients. Making milk takes a lot of energy, which means you need a few more calories (or more food) in the day. Eating a balanced diet is key to keeping your energy up and healing well.

A few important nutrients include:

1. Calcium – found in milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, and salmon
2. Iodine – found in dairy products, eggs, and seafood
3. Choline – found in dairy products, meats, eggs, bean, and lentils
4. Iron – found in meats, white beans, liver, lentils, and spinach
5. Omega 3s – found in flaxseed oil, ground chia seeds, walnuts, and salmon

There are others, but all nutrients are important! Aim for at least three food groups per meal and remember to keep snacks handy while you’re nursing. Here are a few great snack options to keep by your nursing station:

• Nuts and seeds
• Dried or whole fruit
• Trail mix
• Pretzels
• Whole grain crackers with peanut butter

And keep that water bottle handy too! Read more about breastfeeding nutrition here.